Reclining module for recliner with two side frames

ABSTRACT

A reclining module is disclosed for a recliner that includes two side frames. The reclining module includes a backrest frame for pivotal connection with the side frames, a stool frame for pivotal connection with the side frames, a principal link connected between the backrest frame and the stool frame, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the backrest frame and the stool frame. The hydraulic cylinder includes a handle movable from a first position where the hydraulic cylinder cannot be extended and withdrawn to a second position where the hydraulic cylinder can be extended and withdrawn.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to reclining module for a recliner withtwo side frames.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,518 describes a conventional recliner that includesa pair of armrest frames and a specific reclining device integrated withthe pair of armrest frames. The specific reclining device cannot be usedtogether with a different pair of armrest frames. The reclining deviceincludes many parts so that it is complicated in structure. Most of theparts are not connected with one another before they are assembled withthe side frames so that their assembling is troublesome.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a recliningmodule that can be used together with various pairs of side frames.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a simplereclining module for a recliner that includes two side frames.

According to the present invention, a reclining module is provided for arecliner that includes two side frames. The reclining module includes abackrest frame for pivotal connection with the side frames, a stoolframe for pivotal connection with the side frames, a principal linkconnected between the backrest frame and the stool frame, and ahydraulic cylinder connected between the backrest frame and the stoolframe. The hydraulic cylinder includes a handle movable from a firstposition where the hydraulic cylinder cannot be extended and withdrawnto a second position where the hydraulic cylinder can be extended andwithdrawn. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description inconjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of thepreferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recliner according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reclining module for the recliner ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the reclining module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the reclining module in adifferent position.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but shows the reclining module in adifferent position.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but shows the reclining module in adifferent position.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the recliner in another position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a recliner 10 according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the recliner 10 includes two side frames 60 (shownin phantom lines) and a reclining module. The recliner 10 may includedifferent pairs of side frames and the reclining module can still beused together with the various pairs of side frames. The recliningmodule includes a backrest frame 20, a stool frame 30, two links 40 anda hydraulic cylinder 50.

Each side frame 60 includes an upper member used as an armrest and alower member used as a foot. The side frames 60 are preferably made ofwood in consideration of weight. The side frames 60 will not bedescribed in detail for being conventional.

The backrest frame 20 includes two plates 21 each for attachment torelated one of the side frames 60, two links 22 each pivotally connectedwith related one of the plates 21 and a crossbar 23 connected betweenthe links 22. Each link 22 includes an upper portion above the crossbar23 and a lower section below the crossbar 23. Although not shown, abackrest plate is secured to the upper sections of the links 22, and apad made of sponge is attached to the backrest plate in order to providea soft feel to a user.

The stool frame 30 includes two linkages 32. Each linkage 32 includes aplate 31 for attachment to related one of the side frames 60, a firstlink 33 pivotally connected with the plate 31, a second link 35pivotally connected with the first link 33, a third link 36 pivotallyconnected with the plate 31, a fourth link 37 pivotally connected withthe third link 36 and a bracket 38 pivotally connected with the secondlink 35 and the fourth link 37. A crossbar 34 is connected between thefirst links 33. A spring 39 is connected between the plate 31 and thethird link 36 of one of the linkages 32. Although not shown, a stoolplate is attached to the brackets 38, and a pad made of sponge isattached to the stool plate in order to provide a soft feel to the user.

Each link 40 is connected between the lower section of related one ofthe links 22 and the crossbar 34. Thus, the backrest frame 20 isconnected with the stool frame 30 by means of the links 40.

The hydraulic cylinder 50 is connected between the lower section of oneof the links 22 and one of the plates 31. Thus, the positions of thebackrest frame 20 and the stool frame 30 are determined by means of thehydraulic cylinder 50. The hydraulic cylinder 50 includes a handle 51for control over the hydraulic cylinder 50.

The handle 51 can be pivoted between a first position shown in FIGS. 3and 6 and a second position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the firstposition of the handle 51, the hydraulic cylinder 50 cannot be extendedand withdrawn. In the second position of the handle 51, the hydrauliccylinder 50 can be extended and withdrawn.

The handle 51 is normally in the first position. Referring to FIG. 3,the hydraulic cylinder 50 is in the extended position so that thebackrest frame 20 is in a high position and that the stool frame 30 isin a withdrawn position.

As the handle 51 is pivoted to the second position, the hydrauliccylinder 50 can be moved from the extended position shown in FIG. 4 tothe withdrawn position shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the backrest frame 20 is moved to a low position sothat the stool frame 30 is moved to an extended position by means of thelinks 40. The hydraulic cylinder 50 is moved to the withdrawn position.

Referring to FIG. 6, the handle 51 is released and returned to the firstposition. The hydraulic cylinder 50 is kept in the withdrawn position sothat the backrest frame 20 is kept in the low position. Because of thelinks 40, the stool frame 30 is kept in the extended position. When thereclining module is in the position of FIG. 6, the recliner 10 is in theposition of FIG. 7 so that the user can lie in it.

If the handle 51 is pivoted to the second position and the backrestframe 20 and the stool frame 30 are both released, the hydrauliccylinder 50 will automatically extend so as to return the backrest frame20 to the high position, and the stool frame 30 the withdrawn position.

The present invention has been described via detailed illustration ofthe preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variationsfrom the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limitthe scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

1. A reclining module for a recliner with two side frames, the recliningmodule comprising a backrest frame for pivotal connection with the sideframes, a stool frame for pivotal connection with the side frames, aprincipal link connected between the backrest frame and the stool frame,and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the backrest frame and thestool frame, the hydraulic cylinder including a handle movable from afirst position where the hydraulic cylinder cannot be extended andwithdrawn to a second position where the hydraulic cylinder can beextended and withdrawn.
 2. The reclining module of claim 1 wherein thebackrest frame includes two plates each for attachment to related one ofthe side frames and two links each pivotally connected with related oneof the plates.
 3. The reclining module of claim 2 wherein the backrestframe includes a crossbar connected between the links thereof.
 4. Thereclining module of claim 1 wherein the stool frame includes twolinkages each for pivotal connection with related one of the sideframes.
 5. The reclining module of claim 4 wherein the stool frameincludes a crossbar connected between the linkages.
 6. The recliningmodule of claim 5 wherein each of the linkages includes a plate forattachment to related one of the side frames, a first link pivotallyconnected with the plate, a second link pivotally connected with thefirst link, a third link pivotally connected with the plate and a fourthlink pivotally connected with the third link.
 7. The reclining module ofclaim 6 wherein each of the linkages includes a bracket pivotallyconnected with both of the second link and the fourth link forsupporting a stool plate.
 8. The reclining module of claim 6 wherein thecrossbar is connected between the first links of the linkages.
 9. Thereclining module of claim 1 including two principal links.
 10. Thereclining module of claim 9 wherein the backrest frame includes twoplates each for attachment to related one of the side frames and twolinks each pivotally connected with related one of the plates, and thestool frame includes two linkages each connected with related one of thelinks of the backrest frame via related one of the principal links. 11.The reclining module of claim 10 wherein the hydraulic cylinder isconnected between one of the links of the backrest frame and one of thelinkages of the stool frame.
 12. The reclining module of claim 10wherein each of the linkages includes a plate for attachment to relatedone of the side frames, a first link pivotally connected with the platethereof, a second link pivotally connected with the first link, a thirdlink pivotally connected with the plate thereof and a fourth linkpivotally connected with the third link.
 13. The reclining module ofclaim 12 wherein each of the linkages includes a bracket pivotallyconnected with both of the second link and the fourth link forsupporting a stool plate.
 14. The reclining module of claim 12 whereineach of the principal links is connected between related one of thelinks of the backrest and the first link of related one of the linkagesof the stool frame.
 15. The reclining module of claim 12 wherein thehydraulic cylinder is connected between one of the links of the backrestframe and the plate of one of the linkages of the stool frame.